COLUMBUS, Ohio — According to an out-of-state survey, Ohio is far from being a leader in locally grown and raised food. That survey, by the Strolling of the Heifers Locavore Index out of Vermont, has Ohio ranked 35th, even though the state ranked in the top 10 for both farmers’ markets and community-sponsored agriculture.

But that survey puzzles experts here. “Farmers’ markets aren’t going anywhere but up in Ohio,” said Christie Welch, farmers’ market specialist with the Ohio State University extension service. “That survey is surprising, considering we ranked fifth in the nation for farmers’ markets.

“Growth among farmers’ markets in Ohio has been tremendous during the past several years. I started working on farmers’ markets on behalf of Ohio State University in 2008. At that time, we identified 150 farmers’ markets.”

In 2011, Ohio hosted 278 markets, according to the USDA’s annual survey, which was a basis for the Locavore Index.

“I’m comfortable saying we’ve seen 25 to 30 percent growth over the last four years,” Welch said.

“Many Ohio grocery stores have stepped in and adopted the practice of obtaining produce, grains, meat, dairy and eggs from local farmers.”

According to Mintel Market Research of Minnesota, more than half of consumers surveyed said buying local produce is more important than buying organic produce.

People who buy most or all of their food from local sources are called locavores. These shoppers perceive local foods as fresher and more healthful. Mintel research concludes that consumers like the idea of supporting local farmers.

“A lot of what we hear from our customers is they want local,” said Jackie Seikmann, a spokeswoman for the Columbus Division of Kroger Co. “It’s a trend in our stores, along with natural and organic foods.” Kroger will try to make it easier for shoppers to find local foods with a Discover Local campaign, which it will test in Columbus this summer.

Restaurants are looking for natural and organic foods, as well. Locally obtained meats and seafood and locally grown produce topped the National Restaurant Assoc. survey of nearly 18,000 chefs.

The local-food movement is becoming big business. According to the USDA, sales by farmers’ markets, community-supported farms and farm stands, as well as supermarkets, restaurants and institutions, are close to $5 billion a year – all thanks to community-supported farms.

Ohio hosted 2,899 community-supported farms in a 2007 USDA survey, ranking ninth in the Locavore Index.

“People are becoming more aware of where their food dollars are going,” Welch said. “There is tremendous interest in supporting local producers. It’s likely Ohio’s large population relative to other states caused its below-average in the index, not lack of farmers’ markets or community-supported farms.”

Ohio’s main thrust in state-grown fruits and vegetables comes from Ohio Proud, an organization which stamps Ohio-grown products with its distinctive label.

“Within the past year or two, there have been markets popping up all over,” said Lori Panda of the Ohio Proud program, part of the Ohio Department of Agriculture. “People are interested in supporting their local economy and Ohio farmers. It’s brining the community together.

“The challenge for the farm markets is it’s starting to get difficult to get vendors, especially on Saturdays, because there’s so many markets and they are so popular.”